Porch shade or blind.



H. E. RATHBUN.

PORCH SHADE OR BLIND.

APPLICATION men 0019,1915,

1,186,80. Patented Apr. 25,1916.

HENRY E. RATHBUN, 01E 'WQROESTEE, MASSACHUSETTS.

FOR-CH SHADE R BLIND.

Specification of Letters Yatent.

messes.

slats, securedtogether'and held in place by strands-or cords, and having a top edge, and a bottom edge, and adapted to be rolled, or drawn up, by means of cords and pulleys, which pulleys are attached to the top edge of the shade, and my invention partlcularly relates to an improved .cord and pulley attachment for shades or blinds of the class referred to.

Theobject of my invention is to provide an improved cord and pulley attachment for porch shades and blinds of the class referred to, wherebythe extra or loose cord usually on porch shades is used for other purposes, making the shade more easily raised or lowered, and at. the same time utilizing the excess cord as a stay, to hold the shade from flapping with the wind, and my invention consists in certain novel features of construction of my improvements, as will be hereinafter fully described. Referring to the drawing :Figure 1 is front view of a porch shade or blind, with my improved cord and pulley attachment, for raising and lowering the shade, combined therewith. Fig. 2 is a vertical section, .on line 2, 2, Fig. 1, looking in the direction of arrow a, same figure. Fig. 3 is a section, on line 3, 3, Fig. 1, looking in the direction of arrow 6, same figure; the lower edge of the shade is shown by broken lines, and, Fig. 41 is, on an enlarged scale, a detached section, showing one of the loops for holding and guiding the side cords.

In the accompanying drawing, 1 are fiat strips or slots, which form the body of the shade, 2 are flexible strands or cords, which extend upon opposite sides of the slats, and are interwoven in the usual and well known way, to secure said slats together, and hold them in position.

3 is the top edge of the shed bottom edge, each consisting in 3nd 4% the Application filed October 9, 1915. Serial No. 55,081.

instance- Patented ts 25, 1916.

of three strips or slats, having their contiguous faces corrugated or-grooved longitudinally, to hold the ends of the strands 2, which pass between them. The strips or slats in the top edge 3, and-in the bottom edge 4, are secured together by rivets 3, and 1, respectively.

I will now describe my improved pulley and cord attachment, for raising and lowerin the shade or blind. I

io the upper edge 3 of the shade is secured, near each end thereof, a single pulley 5, and a single pulley 6, in this instance by- .a staple 5, and 6 respectively. To the central part of the top edge 3, and at an equal distance from the two end pulleys 5, and 6, are secured two pulleys 9 and 10, by a staple 11. Below the lower edge 4 of the shade, near each end thereof, are two single ulleys 12, and 13, which are secured to they oor, in this instance by a wire hook 12, and 13, respectively. Intermediate the two lower pulleys 12, and 13 is in this instance a clamping device, which consists of a plate 11, se

cured to the floor by screws 15, and having tends between the o uter end of the base or plate 1 1, and the outer end of the latch 19,,

and is held in place by a stud 14. on the base 14-, and a stud 19" on the latch 19, see'Fig. .2. The spring 22 acts to hold the outer end of the latch 19 in its raised position, and the inner yoked end in its lowered position.

In connection with the pulleys, and clamping device above described, two cords 23, and 24, are used, which are endless cords, the free ends in this instance being knotted together at 23, and 21, respectively. The cord 23, starting at the knot 23 at the right in Fig. 1, passes up through the guide loop 25, which extends between two of thevslats n extend through the eyes 25 on the loop see 1g. 4:, and then through a 1 and is held in place by the two strands 2,.

io'sv tli m I 1,1se,seo

second guide loop 25, and over the pulley 5 at the right, and over the outer pulley 9, intermediate the pulleys 5, and 6, and then down and through the guide eye 26, secured on the lower edge t, and under the outer pulley l8, and under one arm of the forked end l9 of the latch 19, see i3, and around the pulley 12, and through the guide eye 27 secured on the lower edge l, to the knot 23, forming an endless cord. The other cord 9A, starting at the knot 2% at the left in Fig. 1, passes through the guide loop 25, and through a second guide loop 25, and up and around the pulley 6, and over the inner pulley l0, and downwardly through a guide eye 26, and under the inner pulley l7, and under one of the arins'of the :lforked end 19 of the latch 19, see Fig. 3, and

around the pulley 13, through the eye 27 to the knot 24, forming an endless cord.

The operation of my cord and pulley attachment will be readily understood by those skilled in the art, from the above description in connection with the drawing.

When it is desired to raise the shade or blind, the outer end of the latch 19 is pushed down, against the action of the spring 22, to release the pressure of the forked end 19 on the cords 23, and 2d; the two cords 23, and 2%, forming a double cord at the center part of the shade, are grasped by the operator and drawn downwardly, causing the knots 23 and to engage with the guide loops which act as stops, and draw up the lower part of the shade until said guides reach the upper set olf guide loops 25, when the upper part of the shade will also be drawn up. When the shade is drawn up to its desired height, the latch 19 is released, and the spring acts to force the forked end 19 down on the cords 23, and 24, which pass under said forked end, to hold said cords, and to hold the shadein its raised position.

It is evident that any number of loops 25 may be placed between the slats, thereby causing any depth of fold desired, when the shade is raised.

When it is desired to drop the shade or blind, the latch 19 is pressed down at its outer end, against the action of the spring 22, to release the cords '23, and 24-, and the weight of the shade will cause itto automatically drop to its full length, or to any desired intermediate length, when the latch leys, there are no loose ends of the cords,

and the cords, in connection with the two lower pulleys around which the cords pass, and the clamping device, actto prevent the shade from being blown inwardly, and hold it in its normal position, when raised, or lowered.

It will be understood that the details of construction of my improvements may be varied if desired. Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is l. The combination with a flexible shade, comprising a series of strips or slats, and strands to secure them together, of a pulley and cord attachment, for raising and low ering the shade, comprising a. plurality of pulleys or guides for the cords, secured to the upper edge of the shade, and a plurality of pulleys or guides for the cords secured below the lower edge of the shade and independent of the shade, and endless cords pass ing around or over said pulleys, or guides, and guide loops or eyes on the shade for said cords, said guide loops attached to the shade bythe strands which secure the slats or strips together passing through eyes on said loops, and means on said cords to act as stops and prevent them passing through some of said loops, to cause the raising of the shade when said cords are movedin one direction, and means for holding said cords in their adjusted position.

52. The combination with a flexible shade,

con'iprising a series of strips or slats, and

strands to secure then: together. of a pulley and cord attachment, for raising and lowcring the shade, comprising a plurality of pulleys or guides for the cords, secured to the upper edge of the shade, and a plurality of pulleys or guides for the cords secured below the lower edge of the shade, and independent of the shade, and endless cords pass ing around or over said pulleys, or guides, and guide loops or eyes on the shade for said cords, and means on said cords to act as stops and prevent them passing through some of said loops, to cause the raising of the shade when said cords are moved in one direction, and means for holding said cords in their adjusted position, said means comprising a spring actuated latch adapted to engage said cords, and permanently located below said shade.

3. The combination with a flexible shade, comprising a series of strips or slats, and straiuls to secure them together, of a pulley and cord attaclnnent, for raising and lowering the shade, comprising a plurality of pulleys or guides for the cords, secured to the upper edge of the shade, and a plurality of pulleys or guides for the cords, secured below the lower edge ol the shade and indepr -lent of the shade, and endless cords passaround or over said pulleys, or guides,

and guide loops or eyes on the shade for guides, and sziid hoLdin means below the said cords, and means on said cords to act as shade, acting to hold the shade in its normal stops and prevent them passing through vertical position.

some of said loops, to cause the ra'i'smg' of HENRY E. RATHBUN. the shade when said cords are moved in one Witnesses: direction, and means for holding said cords J. C. DEWEY,

in their adjusted position, said pulleys or M. HAAs. 

